Tattoos with images such as of the Buddha may offend Thai people, Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat was quoted as telling reporters.

He said his ministry had asked regional governors, particularly in tourist hotspots, to inspect tattoo studios and ask them not to use religious patterns, according to the state-run National News Bureau.

It said he would push for a law banning people from etching sacred images onto their skin.

According to an earlier AFP Yahoo news report, the Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat told the media that Thailand has ordered a crackdown on tourists with religious images tattooed on their bodies while visiting Thailand.

In many cultures around the world, tattoos are used as a way to signify status positions and are believed to offer supernatural protection. Magical tattoos in Thailand are very popular, in particular Yantra tattoos.

The traditional tattoo in Thailand is called “Sak Yant”. It is quite difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of this art as it is so old the history has almost been lost. Many countries have laid claim to the birth of this ancient art, but it is believed to have originated from the Khmer period approximately 3,000 years ago. Proof of the age of the tattoo in the form of mummies, have been discovered in and around the Philippines sporting Bamboo tattoos which are still visible.

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If I was a Thai., then there would be a good chance that I would be a budist in faith. So, why would I be offended if I saw a Buhda tattooed on some ones body. I am sure that many monks have images of Buhda tattoed on their bodies also. IF I was Christian I would not be offended if some one had a cross tattooed on them. This statement by this supposed public servant is absolutely rediculous. He should not be able to influence the tattoo parlours in that way and no law should be passed. Thailand should not stifel it's people the way they do. They are acting in a similar manner to a communist society. There is so much editing going on in public opinions in Thailand that even this article will be edited to the point that it may not even be published. You wonder why you have uprisings and demostrations etc etc. Look around you and it won't be hard to see why. Wake UP Thai authority.

DAVE

02 Jun 2011 , 09:32am

i guess the next move will be tourists cannot bar fine in thailand, that will never happen, but this act will surely enhance the belief that thai only want the money tourist bring to the country but despise the tourist?? cambodia gets more appealing by the hour